Convertible body



April '3 19 R. BERINGER 1,111,010

CONVERTIBLE BODY Filed 1115117, 1924- r ZSheets-Sheet 1 IVENTOR I ATTORNEY April 1929- RJBERINGER: 1,

CONVERTIBLE BODY Filed Nov. 17, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR v (a? are}: at

edl-f ATTORNEY jectine' rubber weather strip let at the other side. The panels 38 and .10 are not intended to overlap, but when closed as in Figure l, are in substantially the same plane with the narrow space between them sealed by the Weather strips 4d. The weather strips also seal. the space between the bottom of the panel and the top edge of the door, and the space between the top edge of the panel and the horizontal projecting part of the top 22. The top 22 is provided with a downwardly projecting horizontal ledge or flange 46 against which the upper edges of the panels close. Preferalily the panels are tilted slightly forward on the doors, their upper edges engaging the ledge d6 before the doors are quite closed, so that the panels are held against the led go under some tension to prevent any possibility of rattling.

Each of the panels has a pair of down wardly projecting supporting posts 48 seated in sockets 50 in the top edge of the door. A rock shaft 52 is arranged in the top of the door and parallel to its upper edge with "am portions 54. shown as being halt-round in cross section, intersecting the sockets 50 when in operative position to grip the supporting posts of the panel. One cam portion 54- is shown in its inoperative position in Figure 7 by turning the shaft 52 through a comparatively small angle, part of this cam portion is projected. far enough into the socket to grip the supporting post very firmly. As shown in Figure 8, the shaft 52 may be rocked by an arm 56 keyed thereto and engaged by an eccentric 58 on a swinging operating arm 60. The arm 60 is shown in its operative position in Figure 8, that is, with the highest point of the eccentric 58 in engagement with the arm 56, so that the shaft 52 is rocked to project the cam portions 54 into the sockets to grip the supporting posts. By lifting the arm 60 the posts are released so that the panel can be removed.

As shown in Figure 9, the shaft 52 may be rocked, if desired by a threaded opera-ting member 62 engaging a stationary threaded nut 64 and operatively connected to an arm 65 keyed to the shaft.

The panels, when not in use, are intended to be housed in recesses formed in the doors themselves. As explained above, each panel is of the same width as the top edge of its door, and one feature of my invent-ion relates to providing an offset portion or extension 66 on each door projecting: beyond the axis of the door hinges 68, and into which extension the recess for the panel extends, so that each panel may be fully housed within the door notwithstanding the fact that it is as wide as the door when viewed from the outside of the car. The inside facing of the door may be cut away as indicated at 70 in Figure 3, to

facilitate withdrawing and inserting the panels.

While one illustrative embodiment has been described in detail, it not the intention to limit the scope of the invention to that particular embodiment, or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vehicle door having sockets at its upper edge, a panel having supportine posts extending; into the sockets, a rockshaft having; cams intersecting the sockets to grip the posts, and means for rocking the shaft.

2. A vehicle door having sockets at its upper edge, a panel having supporting posts exicendinginto the sockets, a rockshaft having come intersecting;- the sockets to grip the posts, an operating arm on the roclrshaft, and a pivoted member movable at right angles to the door and which has an eccentric part engaginp, the arm, the high point of the eccentric engaging the arm when said member is adjacent the door, so that the panel is released by swinging said member away from the door.

3. A hinged vehicle door formed on its inner side with a. storage space extending as an oifsct past the hinged edge of the door, and

a panel of the same width as the outside width of the door sliding from the free edge of the door into the storage space.

i. A vehicle body having a pair of doors hinged at opposite edges and substantially meeting at their free adjacent edges when closed, a door post between the doors against which the doors close, the free edges of the doors being rabbeted to overlap and conceal the post, said doors being formed on their inner sides with storage spaces extending as oltsets past the hinged edges of the doors, and panels adapted to be housed in said oflsets 01' mounted on the tops of the doors, said panels being of the same width as the doors so that when in position they appear as continua.- tions of the doors.

5. A vehicle door having sockets at its upper edge, a panel having supporting posts extending; into the sockets, a rock shaft havi means projecting into the sockets and adapted to grip the said posts when the rock shaft is rocked, and means for rocking the shaft.

6. A vehicle body having), a pair of doors hinged at opposite edges and substantially meeting at their tree adjacent edges when closed. a door post between the doors against which the doors close, the free edges of the doors being; rabbeted to overlap and conceal the post, and a shiitable panel adapted to be mounted on the top of each 'door and have its ed act-i substantially in vertical alignment with the lateral ed see of the door. said doors being provided with laterally offset pockets for housing the panels when not in use.

7. A vehicle door, means for pivotally mounting the door on the vehicle, a panel of the full width of the door and arranged to be shifted to a position to form a continuation of the 'door in line therewith at its lateral edges, said door being provided with a pocket offset laterally toward the pivot for receiving the panel when not in use.

8. A vehicle body member having a socket at its upper end, a supporting post fitting in the socket, a horizontal rook shaft mounted in the body member and having means for gripping engagement With the supporting member to hold it in the socket, and cam 10 means for rocking the shaft to look the supporting member in position.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROSCOE BERINGER. 

